Bridgend

Bridgend's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 140,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Bridgend increased by 8.2%, from almost 129,000 to 139,000.

The addition of almost 11,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in Wales, while Bridgend remained the ninth-most populous local authority area in the country.

In 2011, Bridgend was home to, on average, 4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Welsh language in Bridgend

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Bridgend fell from 11% to 9.7% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 52 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 10,313.

In nearby Neath Port Talbot, 15% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 18% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

This area saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

During this period, Bridgend overtook Newport and Merthyr Tydfil to become the Wales local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 and over in Bridgend said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55% to 49%.

Powys saw the next largest rise (from 10.0% to 12%).

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

This area saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, Bridgend overtook six local authority areas, including Isle of Anglesey and Flintshire, to become the Wales local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in Bridgend had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 32% to 29%.

The largest increase occurred in Merthyr Tydfil (from 12% to 14%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Religion in Bridgend

The number of people in Bridgend that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 27,000 in 2001 to just over 51,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 21% to 37% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Wales (from 19% to 32%).

The number of people in Bridgend that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 90,000 in 2001 to just under 77,000 in 2011 (from 70% to 55%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 9,700 to just under 9,800. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.6% to 7.0%.

Just under 530 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from about 290 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Bridgend increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bridgend that rented privately increased from 6.2% to 12% between the last two censuses.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of Bridgend households that owner their home decreased from 77% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in Neath Port Talbot (from 5.9% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 8.6% to 14%.

Private renting in Bridgend increased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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